[Announcement] Technical Updates Discussion

13

Comments

  • Jahad
    Jahad
    Posts: 16
    Good day,

    Just found and signed up for OP and went Ascendant for month to month. However, in sending invites to my members, none have received them to date.

    Reading through the forum post here, it appears that you are having challenges with email. I'm not sure what the issue is; coding, authentication, spam, sending limit reached. Just wish to now how to work around the invites manually.

    Do I just give them the sub-site, they create an account (free or ascendant) and they will be added to my campaign?

    Good luck finding the issue.

    ~Jahad~
  • NikMak
    NikMak
    Posts: 379
    I think if you have them create a free account you should still be able to invite them through the Obsidian Portal (OP) invite system.

    I know I started my new supers campaign about 2 months ago and had no problem inviting people with the OP internal invites. hope that helps
  • twiggyleaf
    twiggyleaf
    Posts: 2,006
    Hi Jahad

    I had two new players start in my campaign and (with some difficulty) got it to work out. They have to sign up and then you can invite them by PM. The problem is that the site can be quite bewildering for new players, but if you email them separately and tell them to accept the invite, which they will find in their PMs (by clicking the ENVELOPE symbol in the top) and waiting a few seconds (because OP is still very "clunky"), then you should succeed.

    Alex has not yet commented, but if you are having any problems with that, I know he will be glad to help/

    Hopefully, the notification issue is going to be sorted quite soon.

    twigs

    "I met a traveller from an antique land....."

    CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

    Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

    Inner Council Member

  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    There are some people that have had this issue since 2013, fyi.

    Just trying to help out.

  • Belrathius
    Belrathius
    Posts: 206
    Let me preface my comments by saying that the following is not said in frustration but as someone observing the situation and understanding human nature from the perspective of a business degree.



    I feel the need to reinforce Twig's statement above, regarding the statement made in the last tech update (from the 11th). For two years the community has heard statements such as "soon", "coming any time", and even "sometime next week". When a delivery deadline was presented last week, I felt that the community should support the current dev team that provided a firm deadline. That said, however, it should also be pointed out that the community also endured incessant failures to deliver with the previous dev team. If the new owners are serious in their commitment to the site and this community, delivering a solution *today* (as per their own established deadline) is a vital first step in rebuilding the trust and relationship that others damaged.

    As KVP has repeatedly said, the improved communication is great but the powers behind the scenes needs to deliver on their commitments and fix things that are hindering important functionality - and has been doing so for far too long.

    The CEO statement is all well and good, but words require actions to show proof. This community has endured lip service for far too long. Yes, that is not the fault of Kaleidoscope, but unless they show themselves to be different, the community has no reason to view them differently. Their understanding of the real issues may be recent, but from an outsider's perspective they have had months to come to this realization. Did they not bother to investigate the situation? Were they directly lied to about it? Does it even matter? If the new dev team can show a dedication to providing service to the community and delivering on their promises - which includes fixing things that are broken - I would wager that the community will be happy to move on from the past. Until they do, however, they will continue to live in the shadow of the previous ownership's failures. I'm not saying that this is right or appropriate, it just simply is. Until they can distinguish themselves positively, most people won't see them as any different regardless of what they may post on a blog. Some of us may understand the more difficult intricacies of an acquisition, but at some point that defense falls hollow as time and due diligence allows for change and overcoming such obstacles.

    Just my two cents on the matter.
  • twiggyleaf
    twiggyleaf
    Posts: 2,006
    Your cents are like dollars, Belrathius!

    twigs

    "I met a traveller from an antique land....."

    CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

    Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

    Inner Council Member

  • Unknown
    Status update was posted, been very busy as of late as I am picking up some additional responsibilities here. I'll try to address some comments soon, sorry for the delay!
  • Jahad
    Jahad
    Posts: 16 edited September 2015
    ~ Jahad ~
    Post edited by Jahad on
  • SkidAce
    SkidAce
    Posts: 830
    I would like to say "Thank You" for showing us progress via actually fixing or implementing something. I.e. the email notifications.

    For so long (many many months) there was nothing but reassurances and "plans".

    Although the email fix is in result to a recent issue, it shows there are actually people working on fixing things. I had gotten to the point where I was not to sure about that.

    Again, thanks.
  • Unknown
    I have posted a new update for review and consideration. Just wanted to make sure everyone here was aware as well.
  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    Updates are appreciated, but I just want to say that I feel that the future goals are not what I personally feel should be addressed.
    There are over 80 pending issues that are in the help desk queue, and I feel that those issues should get fixed before the Kickstarter stretch goals are.
    I realize that one of those goals has to do with the issue of YouTube videos, but there are other issues that have had more updates/participation from the users that are much older that should be taken care of.
    Just my 2 cents.

    Just trying to help out.

  • Unknown
    Another update this week, a quick one to try and cover all bases and make sure the information is out.
  • MdBLimited
    MdBLimited
    Posts: 20 edited October 2015
    I am not an Ascendant member and not very engaged on the OP beyond updating my campaign site.

    My use of the OP is pretty basic as a repository for player-known information so they can easily access it from anywhere. During game play, the players occasionally have the OP up to reference things. But, in large part, it is not necessary for us to play. I am a bit old school and don't trust technology... as it has failed me in the past (my sheets of paper never fail me, though!).

    However, with that being said, I have watched the building frustration of "regular" OP users and the huge loss of Ascendant members who simply left after the disastrous Reforge.

    If I had an Ascendant account, or paid into the Kickstarter, I would have two basic questions:

    1) In the last six months, has anything really functionally improved on the site?

    2) Where did all of the money from the Kickstarter go?

    I would be pretty upset if I paid money for the Kickstarter and broken promises. One would think, with the money from the Kickstarter, they could rebuild the OP site on a better framework or have repaired things by now, yet neither of those things happened... but the money went somewhere...

    I hope things improve and get corrected. In the meantime, I will continue to rely on my trusty binder.

    Myyth Realm: Legacy
    https://myyth-realm-legacy.obsidianportal.com/
    Campaign of the Month April 2013
    Post edited by MdBLimited on
  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    So, after a flurry of activity to fix one issue (which is not completely fixed, as some still have the same issue with email invites) things have returned to the complete lack of attention.
    Still 100s of tickets open.
    Still there are things broken that have been for years.
    Tomorrow is the 2 year anniversary of the Reforge- we still don't have half of the items promised, and we still have things broken that were never repaired, 2 years later.
    The only reason I have not left is the effort to move my 1000+ page wiki is herculean, but right now I really regret not starting 2 years ago, because it would be moved and I would not have wasted all of this time trying to get both previous owners (16 months) and current owners (8 months) to do the things that were promised.
    killervp
    "A God...Rebuilt":https://a-god-rebuilt.obsidianportal.com

    Just trying to help out.

  • SkidAce
    SkidAce
    Posts: 830
    Yeah, its hard to tell. We've seen the "New Guy gets swamped and starts posting less" before.

    I flip flop between optimistic and feeling like killervp does.

    I mean, I'm still hopeful, and still "I Want To Believe" X-files style. But then my management mindset kicks in and I see danger signs everywhere.

    I dunno.
  • Unknown
    Sorry folks, just got delayed with working on some thing to enhance our abilities to process through all these issues. I am finishing up a news drop presently and am hoping to have that out today. Some of the tasks I was working on recently ate up my time and kept me away a little bit.
  • Unknown
    Another news blast today, linked in the OP as normal.
  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    See my above post- nothing new...

    Just trying to help out.

  • Unknown
    I addressed those comments in the case you placed them on (I believe the customer service support item).
  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    Suddenly the youtube videos are working.

    Just trying to help out.

  • twiggyleaf
    twiggyleaf
    Posts: 2,006
    Yay!

    "I met a traveller from an antique land....."

    CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.

    Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign

    Inner Council Member

  • Keryth987
    Keryth987
    Posts: 1,047
    Ya. I mentioned that in my shadows post and the YouTube one. If it was something not done by OP, which is how I'm leaning, then they better leave it alone.

    KillerVP, you are far from the only one who is frustrated here. And IMHO, anyone who backed the Reforge and earned free subscription time should get it again because the time they had was wasted on unfulfilled promises.

    Keelah Se'lai,
    Keryth
    "Shadows Over New York":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/shadows-over-new-york
    "2013 Campaign of The Year":http://blog.obsidianportal.com/2013-coty-shadows-over-new-york/
    "Campaign of the Month July 2013":http://blog.obsidianportal.com/shadows-over-new-york-julys-campaign-of-the-month/

  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    Thanks Keryth- I think the fact that few are complaining is more a reflection of the huge amount of people who have left more than anything else.

    Just trying to help out.

  • MdBLimited
    MdBLimited
    Posts: 20
    From the Status Update on the Blog dated 08/26/2015:

    OP REFORGED: KICKSTARTER UPDATES
    Speaking of new content, I have some news about the as of yet to be delivered stretch goals from the Kickstarter. We have all been patiently awaiting the release of the updated File Locker and the Natural Editing. Tech let me know that these are actually all set to go as soon as we can push an update. So, once those technical issues I mentioned above are cleared we should be seeing these items get rolled out to the site. On a personal note, I think I am most excited about the natural editing, but that might just be me.

    Status: Completed, awaiting resolution of technical issues above.
  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    Completed? Funny....

    Just trying to help out.

  • kettle
    kettle
    Posts: 72
    I have been holding back my frustration about the issues this site has been having, but things seem to be getting worse.
    A little bit about me:

    1) I have been a member of this site since 2009.

    2) I pay for 3 Ascendant accounts for myself and two of my players (who also GM for time to time). That’s $15 per month that I pay for this site.

    3) My wife and I both backed the reforge at the Armored Ascendant level. That’s a total of $150 we gave to the reforge.

    4) I am also a Campaign of the month winner for June 2013.

    5) I have be active with the community on and off over the years.

    I am mentioning all of this to show that I have worked hard to support this site and to see everything falling apart breaks my heart. I have been patient and waited to see if these issues will be resolved, but so far very little has been done. In fact things are getting worse.

    We still have email issues, 502 Bad gateway errors (which prevent me from using the site), Youtube videos not working, the Website running very slow, and much much more. Now to top things off the Forums are having issues. I have to say that I am very disappointed in what the new company has done. The newest issue with the forums should not even last a few hours. Any other proper company would jump on it immediately and get it fixed, instead of waiting.

    These problems have to be fixed and fixed now. I don’t know if the problem is a lack of manpower or if the new company simply doesn’t care about the site and its users. If it’s a manpower issue, then hire more people and GET IT DONE! If it’s an issue of Apathy, THEN START CARING.

    The honest truth is that these issues will be resolved in one of two ways. 1) The company can put the resources in place to get this done. Start putting money into the site (Hire more programmers who are not just part timers) and fix the issues. Or 2) All of the members will slowly leave and all of you revenue will go away.

    My wife and I have given over $2,000 to this site (through Membership and the Reforge donations). Looking at the number of Ascendant accounts you have, plus the money you received from the reforge, there should be no reason why you can’t invest in the site to get all these issues resolve professionally and quickly.

    Stop blaming the past. This is your site now. If you really care about the site, then fix the problems. If you have part time programmers that cannot dedicate time to supporting the site, then fire them and hire some full time programmers to fix things. There is NO REASON THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE LASTING THIS LONG.

    I realize that this post of mine is going to be ignored, but I cannot stay silent any longer. I realize that you do not listen to your customers and may not even care that we are upset and cannot use your site to the degree we pay for. So the only recourse I have is to talk with my Wallet. If these issues continue to occur, then I will simple have to cancel all three of the accounts I pay for and recommend to my other friends that they do the same.

    Maybe if you lose your revenue you will see what a disaster this site has become.

    Kettle
    "Rise of the Dead":https://rise-of-the-dead.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page
    Campaign of the Month June 2013
  • GamingMegaverse
    GamingMegaverse
    Posts: 2,998
    Kettle- Good to hear from you, but unfortunate reason. Loved your zombie game, Rise of the Dead, as you know. Good points, thank you.

    Just trying to help out.

  • Krothos
    Krothos
    Posts: 230 edited November 2015
    I for one have to agree with Kettle on his points. I love this site but it's slipping into the same lack-of-support we had with the previous owners. Big promises, with bread crumbs here and there, and now it takes me posting a new forum asking for a tech update after not seeing one for a couple of weeks (again big promise of WEEKLY tech updates). Now again we're at 2 weeks tomorrow since last posting (Oct 27).

    This is extremely unforntunate that I probably won't be renewing my membership. Can't see paying for a site that has so many bugs.
    Post edited by Krothos on
  • Krothos
    Krothos
    Posts: 230
    Oh, and now I'm seeing numerous errors lines on the forum's webpages:

    (at the top)
    Strict Standards: mktime(): You should be using the time() function instead in /home/obsidianportal/forums.obsidianportal.com/releases/20111102030424/library/Framework/Framework.Functions.php on line 682

    (then about 30 of these lines before I see the forum catagories)
    Deprecated: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is deprecated, use preg_replace_callback instead in /home/obsidianportal/forums.obsidianportal.com/releases/20111102030424/extensions/Textile/classTextile.php on line 1002
  • DreadGazebo
    DreadGazebo
    Posts: 218
    Being on OP and being in these forums is like watching a close friend on life support slip away and there's not a god damn thing I can do about it.

    I hate this.
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